Chain grate



May 15, 1923. 1,454,965

R. E. s. GEARE v CHAIN GRATE Fil ed Jan. 10, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 [id/ 72257" [13E qbcrzce/ Gear v CZZQa R. E. 5 GEARE May 15, 1923 2 SheQats-Shoe t 2 Filed Jan. 10, 1920 fm/eni'r 3.5 5 encer Gcarc Jud CZZjs Patented May l5, i923.

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RANDOLPH E. SPENCER GEARE, O1 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CHAIN GRATE.

Application filed January 10, 1920. Serial 110,350,585.

. To all whom it may concern:

in position upon transverse supporting bars in such wise that bars, which must be replaced, may be readily removed and new ones substituted without interfering with the use of the grate. I

These and other objects will be more fully explained and set forth in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings in which I Figure 1 is a plan view of a section of chain grate embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of one of the supporting bars. s

Fig. 4 is a section taken along the line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective of the, locking key.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of the grate showing the same in its travel over the rear sprocket wheels.

Like numerals refer to like elements throughout the drawings in which 10 indicates generally a transverse supporting bar, a plurality of these bars being provided in a complete mechanism, these bars being secured at each end to a link 11 of drive chains 15, the latter adapted to coact with and ride over sprocket wheels 16. The bars 10 are provided with the end portions 10 adapted to fit between the lugs 11 projecting from the sideof the chain links 11 and being secured thereto b means of a fastenin d D pm, or the like, passed through apertures 11* in the lugs 11 and aperture 10 in the end of the bar 10. The links 21 composing the side drive chains (see Fig. 6) obviously need only be provided with one pair of lu'gs'll while the links of intermediate chains will have two pairs of lugs 11 one on each side thereof as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Each of the bars 10 is provided with a plurality of dovetail grooves or seats 10 a key-way being formed in the bottom of each seat, as 1ndicated by numeral 10, the bottom of such key-way being inclined slightly adjacent one side of the supporting bar to form the edge or vertex 10 A plurality offuel supporting grate bars 13 are provided, each of'these grate bars having offset arms 13 provided with suitable inclined draft passages 13 in the sides thereof. These arms extend inopposite di-' rections from the central portion 13, the.

latter being provided with a tongue 13 on the under side thereof adapted to fit in the dovetail grooves or seats 10 of the supporting bar 10,'as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, for

example. I

A lockmgkey 14 is provided to lock each of the grate bars 1n posltlon, as shown on Fig. 4, these keys beingeach provided with 3 a pair of upwardly projecting lugs 14 14 and a pair ofdownwardly projecting lugs 14 14 ,'see Fig. 5. in assembling the grate bars, the keys 14 are first placed in the keyy ways 10 and allowed to tilt over the edge 10' to permit partial insertion ofjthe .tongue 13 of the grate bar which may then be driven home by a sharp blow into its dovetail seat 10, the key 14 being constructed of resilient metal, such as spring steel, and bending or tilting sufficiently about the edge 10 to permit the passage ofthe tongue 13 overthe lug 14 which will thereafter spring into normal position shown inFig. 4 in'which position the lugs 14*, 14 will engage the ends of the tongue 13 while the lugs 14 and 14 will engage the .sides of the supporting bar 10 thereby locking the grate bars in position;

Should a grate bar become broken or its replacement become necessary for any other reason, the same may be removed and re-'.

chisel or the like between the arms 13 of said bars so that theend of the key 14, preferably the end 14*, may be broken ofi or bent downwardly permitting quick removal of the bar. A new grate bar may then be readily replacedv with a new-key in the manner described above. I find that this operation may be readily accomplished while the stoker is in operation, the rate i of travel thereof being sufficiently slow to permit this replacement.

It will be apparent that my invention-is susceptible of numerous modifications and improvements and I donot wish to be restricted to the formshown except as defined. in the appended claims;

What I claim is o 1. In a traveling grate, parallel transverse supporting members, grate bars carried thereby, each of said bars being provided With a central portion and relatively offset arms, said central portion of each bar having a dovetail connection with its supporting member, the arms of one, transverse set of bars extending between the spaced apart arms of the transverse of bars on either side thereof, and individual key members to hold said bars in pos ion. on said transverse members, said hey members being so located and arranged as to project on either fside of central portions of said bars in such wise as to be acces sible when the preceding transverse set of bars in direction of movement is inclined.

2. In mechanism of the class described, grate bar, a supporting m anber thereror having a seat therein and a key-way, the bottom of said key-way being inclined to nrovide an ai I i a edge intermed ate its extren'iities, and a key fittlDQ' in said ke -wa and having portion C3 J Q L engageable with said when the latter is seated in said sea, said hey being constructed and arran ed to ieldinelv bend 'oversaid edgeivhen said bar is being moved to seating position and thereaiter spr n to position with said engageable portion engaging sa d bar.

3. In a traveling rate, a supporting bar having a plurality o tansversescats therein, gratebar's ada-pted to fit said seats, and individual spring means for retaining said grate bars in, seated position.

41 In a traveling grate, a supporting bar having. a plurality of transverse seats therein, grate bars adapted to fit said seats, and individual means for reta ningsaid grate bars in seated position, said means being resilient and adapted to spring into open ative position as said grate bars are seated.

5. In mechanism of the class described,

a supporting member having a seat and a ltey way, a grate bar seated in said .seat. and a spring key seated in said keyay and securing said bar in seated position, said key having ashoulder at one end engaging said her and a shoulder at its other end engaging said supporting member.

6. mechanism oi? theiclass described, a supporting member, said supporting member having a seat, a grate bar having a portion engageable with said seat, and snring means to. lock said bar in seated position.

7. in, mechanism of the class described, 0. rate bar, a supporting member thereiior. having a seat therein and a key way, the, bottom of said key-Way being inclined to provide edge intermediatehits extremities, and a key fitting in said key-Way and having a down-turned portion at one end adapted to engage one side of said sup- A 5 member and an u1 3turned-port1Qn at its other end adapted to engagesaid;

nor

my mame.

' R. E. SPENCER 

